Airplane pilot&#39;s seat



June 1, 1948. c. N. PAXTON AIRPLANE 'PILOTS SEAT 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 24, 1947 Char/es N. Paxton June 1, 1948. c. N. PAXTON AIRPLANE PILOTS SEAT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 24, 1947 ail OW Char/es IV. Paxfon /ammw June 1', 1948. CJN. PAXTON 2,442,375

AIRPLANE PiLOTS SEAT Filed April 24, 1947 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor 0/7 ar/es IV. Fax/0n A from 8] Patented June 1, 1948 umrso sures PA'FE QFFlEE AIRPLANE PILQ'IRSSEA'L Charles NL'Paxton, United States Navy ApplioatiOn-AprilZ-L 194-7; SeriaLN'o. 7 43580 (Granted under the act of'Marcli 3', 1883, as

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to an airplane pilotsseat.

Itzis an object of the present; invention to provide a rigid seat assembly, one that is detachabl'y mounted in an airplane.

Another object ofthe present invention is the provision of a pilots seat that will'penmit selectlve tilting at the choice offthe pil'ot'.

A still further object of the present invention is. the provision. of. a. space in the seat for stowageof emergency equipment and means for attaching a packed parachute to the bottom of the seat when suspended. independent of. seat supportlload.

A still further object of the. present invention. is. the: provision. of 'mechanism for clamping the seat. in place or. for releasing. the seat.

A still further object of the present. invention is the provision of means for restraining against a forward load.

A still further object. oithe present invention is the. provision-of means-permitting strap freedom for a pilotto move forward.

A. still further object. of the present invention is the provision of. means for releasing straps. in unison with seat attachments to permit the pilot to leave. an airplane with. all equipment attached whendesired or in. an emergency.

Figure-1 is aperspective view of my pilot seat.

Figurezis aperspective. view of elements in an airplane to which the pilot seat is attached, the elements beingshown in unlocked position, portions beingrbroken away.

Eigure' 3 is a side elevational view of'Figure 2,, thelochstrap housing being. shown in section: on line:3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure l -isanenlarged. perspective view-oi oneoi the supports andillustrating the operating lever audits associated-mechanism:inlocked. po'-- sition.

Figure: iislanenlarged perspective view of the supports and illustrating the operating. lever. and its associated mechanisminunlockedposition.

Figure. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the supports and illustrating thevspring loaded pin engaging means and-shaft bearing.

Figure? is 1 an'end elevational viewof the support on the-leverside with the wall broken away; and: illustrating; the 1 crankassembl to the operating shaft, parts-being shown in section.

Figure 8-is an. enla-rgedperspective;view of. the cam, cam block-,.. sliding block, link, and operatinglever:

Ei-gureJQ- is a; perspective View ofsr strap-locking;

amended April 30, 1928; 370' G. G; 757) 2:1 means'inlockedposition; parts' beihg shownfragmentarily;

Figure" 10 is a sectional view taken on line ill'-l9'of Figure 4';

Figure ll'is a view in elevatio'ri'of one'side of thecam-andcam'blocki Figure 12 isa side elevational'view'of Figure l'l'lookin'g in the direction of the arrow.

Referring to the di'awings'jthe numeral I ll represents abase; and H a.back,.tli'ese elements being' of any suitable material; and mounted in a cock=pit *of anairpl'ane. To" the base element I U are supports ll'thatf are in" spaced relation and they are se'cured'tobrackets' M" by rivets l5, the brackets'having' a flange" it that is secured" to the element It byrivets IT. The supports being identical and the elements secured to or mount ed therein being; identical; the same reference numerals have been applied to like parts for clarity; The supports l2 are each provided with an" arcuate cut-'outtportion l8 and right angularly: disposed" flangesl9 that form" a channel or tra'ekwayi for a purpose to be late'r'described.

Interposed'. between the' supports I2 is' a rod or shaft 2E, the ends of the shaftbeingi connected to elements of bearing; 21'; The hearing?! has a flange 22', a boss 23 having a recess 23, a small'erboss 24 and a uniform bore25*through the bosses, the flange being'secu'r'ed to onefa'ce of wall' 2}? of each" support l2 by rivets2l'. The shaft 2!! carries" a spring- 28; one' end 29*being. secured to-the shaft; the'opposite end' 35) being anchoredto the wall 26*, of one of the supports I2 bya strap 31" that is secured-t0 the wall by machine screws 32*; The shaft 20" also carries an arm- 33 that is securely fixed to theshaft by anysuitable means for a purpose to-be-laterdescrihed;

Mountedbetweentheflanges 19 of the "supports i2' is a rod 34 provided: with threaded endsthat" reeeive-nuts-3 51 Each of'therods i -l-on the inside of the flanges tQsupportsone endof'a pair oflinks 38 for a purpose tote-later described; on

each of the supports li there-is secured byrivets 3 F, a-1ockblock 38? the lock block being provided with an arcuateportion that-is approximately the same" as-thearcuat'e portion l and a bore 39; iii-portion 40 being open and -in the form'of a slot.- Within the bore 39- is mounted' 9. lug M having an angular-1y disposed wal-l fl; a plate por.

tion- Methat serves as a guide means for' the lug" H that is under tension of acompressionspring 44 5 A stop-pin 4 5 for limiting the movement of" the mg 41; and the plate 4 355- positioned: on: the.-

lockiblocki was shown in Ei'gure: 6: of'tii'e draw ingsz Below each lock block there is positioned a block 46 that is adapted for sliding movement, the block having a tapered portion 41. Secured to each block 46 by bolts 48 is a key-way block 49, the key-way of the block engaging the slot 48 in the wall 26. The apex of the block 46 is provided with a depending rod I that is encompassed by a. spring 52, the lower end of the spring being seated in the recess 23', the lower end of the rod being spaced from the bearing 2I. To the side walls of the sliding block 46 there is pivotally mounted by bolts 53, the ends of a strap 54, the

ends 55 of links 36 being pivotally mounted to the strap 54 by bolts 56.

On each end of the shaft 28 is mounted a cam, 51 having a shaft 58 that is provided with a reduced end 59 the end having bores 68 and .6I.'

The cam 51 has a pin press fit 62 to prevent shearing ofi of the cam from the shaft 58. The cam 51, shaft 58 and reduced end 59 are mounted in the bearing 2|, the shaft 58 passing through the bosses 23, and 24, the reduced end of shaft 59 engaging the shaft 28 and secured thereto by pins 63 and 64 that engage the bores 68 and 6|. The cam may be an integral part of the cam block 65 or it may be secured to the cam block by bolting or welding, and it is provided'with a threaded bore 66 that receives a screw 61, for pivotally securing one end of link 68 thereto, the opposite end of the link being pivotally mounted to the sliding block by bolt 69. The cam block 65 is provided with a plurality of threaded bores 18 in one side wall, and in one end wall with a threaded bore 1| for a purpose to be later described.

A lever 12 for operating the pilot seat mechanism comprises one side wall 13 of uniform width and having the upper portion bent inwardly forming a guide block 14 and provided with an aperture, the side being of uniform width approximately one-half its length, at which point it takes the form of a plate designated by the numeral 16. The plate portion 16 is provided with a plurality of apertures 11 that are in alignment with the threaded bores 18 that receive screws 18 that secure the lever housing to the cam block 65. Mounted in the lever housing 12 are guide blocks 19 and 88 each being provided with an aperture. A lever handle 8| engages the apertures in the guide blocks 14, 19, and 88, the portion 82 of the handle being bent outwardly and the portion 83 bent at approximately a right angle to the portion 82. Interposed between the guide blocks 19 and 88 is a spring 84 that encompasses the lever handle 8|, the end 85 of the spring being secured to the lever. Pivotally mounted to the end of the portion 83 of the lever is a bar 86 that is also pivotally mounted to the cam block 64 by a bolt 81 that engages the threaded bore 1|. To one of the flanges I9 there is secured by rivets 88 a bracket 89 having a cutout portion 98, one face of the bracket being secured to one face of one of the supports I2.

To the back II and centrally thereof adjacent the top, is a housing 9| having a flange plate front 92. Within the housing is mounted a locking block 93 having splines 94 that engage slots 95 that are disposed in the side walls of the housing and disposed at an angle as shown in Figure 2, the block being adapted for sliding movement.-

Interposed between the lower edge of the block and the bottom wall of the housing is a spring 96 that keeps the locking block 93 under tension. To the bottomof the locking block 93 is secured a clevis that is connected to one end ofcable; 91,

the cable being trained through pulleys 98, some of the pulleys being secured to the back I I, the' opposite end of the cable passing through a bracket 99 and being connected to a pull knob I88.

Hingedly mounted on the flange plate 92 of the housing, is a door IOI having a spring loaded hinge I82. One edge of the door is provided with an angularly cut-out portion I83, adapted for engagement with a dog latch bar I84 the dog latch bar being provided with a spring I85. The dog latch bar has an arm I86 to which is secured a clevis I81 on one end of cable I88. The cable is trained through pulleys I89 that are secured to the back II, the opposite end of cable I88 being provided witha clevis I I8 that is connected to the arm 33.

The seat III is in the form of a hollow shell, the underside of the seat being hollow receives a parachute I I2 that is attached in the hollow cavity. The cavity, may if desired also contain emergency equipment. Straps II3 having one end connected to the parachute rise from the seat and they are supported by transverse'straps II4 that are in spaced relation and have one end I I5 stitched to a pad II6, the opposite end of the transverse straps being provided with a clasp II1 that engages a clasp element carried by the pad. To the ends of the riser straps I I3 is secured one of the ends of back straps M8, the ends of the straps H3 and H8 being securely fastened to rings I I9. The straps I I8 are joined at I28 forming a single strap I2I, the opposite ends of straps 8 having an element I22 that is in the shape of a triangle and it is provided with a ring I23 through which passes a bungee I24, the ends of the bungee being secured to the straps II 3. To each end of the seat I I I is secured plates I25 having an eye loop tln-ough which a strap I26 passes, the ends of the strap being secured in the eye loops, the strap being provided with a ring I21. Also fixedly secured to each end of the seat is a disc I28, having a plurality of notches I29.

As shown in Figure 3 the seat I I I is positioned in the supports I9, the discs I28 on the seat engaging the arcuate portion I8 in the supports I9. The lever'housing 12 is moved to the position shown in Figures 3 and 4 which is the locked position, and during this movement the strap I2I is placed in the housing 9|, the door I6I is closed impinging the strap, through pressure of spring 96 to the door I6I, the edge I82 of the door being in locked engagement with the dog latch bar I84, the shaft 28 being under tension of spring 28. During movement of the lever housing 12 to the latched position the following movements of the various elements takes place. The cam block 65 and cam 51 move with the lever arm, the rod 28 being connected to the cam shaft moves, the sliding block 46 moves downwardly due to the lower end of link 68 being secured by bolt 61 to the cam 51, the upper end of the link 68 being secured to the sliding block 46 by bolt 69. The strap 54 being connected to the sliding block 46 moves from an inclined position as shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 4 which is the locked position of the strap 54 to the block or disc |28, the locking engagement being effected by the links 36. When the lever housing 12 is moved to locked position the bar 86 engages the bracket 89 due to its being pivotally mounted to the lever-handle I2 and to the cam block 65.

An aviator then positions himself in the seat and secures his harness to the rings II9'and I21.

If he desires to move forward or backward. he

allowing the strap 2! to move up or down depending on whether the aviator desires to move forward or backward. During this movement the pin 42 is actuated and engages one of the notches I29 in the disc I28. The block 93, when released from the pull on cable 91 again wedges the strap l2l against the door lill through the action of the spring 95.

If the aviator has to make an emergency jump,

the lever handle Bl is pushed down releasing the bar 86 from the bracket 89, the lever arm 12 moving to release position and being assisted by the spring 28 on shaft 23, and during the movement of the lever arm the cam 57 exerts a push on the link 63 assisted by the spring 52, pushin the block 46 upwardly, the strap 5 moving into an inclined angle due to the action of links 36 thus releasing the straps 5 from engagement with the discs I 28, the bar 3 acting as a guide rest for strap 54. Simultaneously with the movement of the lever arm '22, a pull is exerted on the cable H38 by the arm 33 and spring on the shaft 29, the cable releasing the dog latch bar we, the door llll, thus freeing the strap Hi.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What I claim is:

1. A pilots seat for airplanes comprising supports, slidable means in said supports, means for engaging said seat connected to said slidable means, means on said seat for engagement with engaging means on said slidable means, a shaft interposed between said supports, an arm on said shaft, means on the end of said shaft connected to said shaft, means connecting said slidable means to the means on the end of said shaft, and means on one end of said shaft for moving the shaft, slidable means and the seat engaging means to a locked position.

2. A pilots seat for airplanes comprising supports, slidable means in said supports, means for engaging said seat connected to said slidable means, means on said seat for engagement with the engaging means on said slidable means, a shaft interposed between said supports, an arm on said shaft, one end of a cable connected to said am, the opposite end of said cable connected to a spring loaded door, of a strap control means comprising a housing, a locking block in said housing and adapted for sliding movement, and means connected to said block for normally urging said block upwardly, means on the end of said shaft connected to said shaft, means connecting said slidable means to the means on the end of said shaft, and means on one end of said shaft for moving the shaft, the arm, cable, slidable means and the seat engaging means to a locked position.

3. A pilots seat for airplanes comprising supports, slidable means in said supports, means for engaging said seat connected to said slidable means, means on said seat for engagement with the engaging means on said slidable means. parachute in said seat, straps connected to said parachute, means on said straps and seat for en gagement With a pilots harness, resilient means connected to said seat straps for contracting one of said seat straps, a shaft interposed between said supports, an arm on said shaft. means on the end of said shaft connected to said shaft. means connecting said slidable means to the means on-the end of said shaft, and means on one end of said shaft for moving the shaft, slidable means and the seat engaging means to locked positions.

4. A pilots seat for airplanes comprising supports, slidable means in said supports, means for engaging said seat connected to said slidable means, means on said seat for engagement with the engaging means on said slidable means, a parachute in said seat, straps connected to said parachute, means for releasably engaging one of said parachute straps, means on said straps and seat for engagement with a pilots harness, resilient means connected to said seat straps for contracting one-of said seat straps when released from said strap releasable means.

5. A pilots seat for airplanes comprising supports, slidable means in said supports, means for engaging said seat connected to said slidable means, means on said seat for engagement with the engaging means on said slidable means, a parachute in said seat, straps connected to said parachute, means for releasably engaging on of said parachute straps, means on said straps and seat for engagement with a pilots harness, resilient means connected to said seat straps for contracting one of said seat straps, slots in said means on said seat, means carried by said supports adapted for engagement with said slots upon movement of said seat, and means connected to said releasable means allowing said strap to move with the movement of said seat.

6. A pilots seat for airplanes comprising sup ports, slidable means in said supports, means for engaging said seat connected to said slidable means, means on said seat for engagement with the engaging means on said slidable means, a parachute in said seat, straps connected to said parachute, means on said straps and seat for engagement with a pilots harness, resilient means connected to said seat straps for contracting one of said seat straps, means for releasably engaging one of said parachute straps, a shaft interposed between said supports, an arm on said shaft, means on the end of said shaft connected to said shaft, means connecting said slidable means to the means on the end of said shaft, means connecting said arm to said strap releasable means, and means on one end of said shaft for moving the shaft to an unlocked position, the said slidable means releasing the seat engaging means and the strap releasing means, the com tracting means contracting said strap released from said releasing means.

7. A pilots seat for airplanes comprising supports, slidable means in said supports, means for engaging said seat connected to said slidable means, means on said seat adapted for engagement with the engaging means on said slidable means, a shaft interposed between said supports, an arm on said shaft, one end of a cable connected to said arm the opposite end of said cable connected to a spring loaded door, of a strap control means comprising a housing, a locking block in said housing and adapted for silding movement, means connected to said block for manually urging said block upwardly in locked position, means connected to said block for releasing said block from locked position, means on the end of said shaft connected to said shaft, means connecting said slidable means to the means on the end of said shaft, and means on one end of said shaft for moving the shaft, arm, cable, slidable means and the seat engaging means to a locked position.

CHARLES N. PAXTON. 

